Math

You can talk to them in English via email no problem - just a satellite delay on replies as they translate stuff. My bag was also a custom rig, but still only took 5/6 weeks. Must have been a quiet month.

about 5 weeks to the UK

I already send my SD products back to Wisconsin for service and repair as the UK appointed SD outlet - Shure Distribution - have a poor reputation; slow turnaround (7 weeks to fix some LED's on a 744 last year), poor workmanship (they didn't replace all the LED's that needed replacing) and bad customer service (they weren't too bothered about LED-Gate and i had to pay for it to go back a second time). So no change there. Ambient in Germany are good too, and they don't refuse to service a machine bought in the US - why would they?

Surely the point at which to consider the implications of the pricing structure is when customers start to circumvent their local dealers due to the product being available cheaper elsewhere?

I understand that global market forces are different, as are trading laws etc and can understand a price difference. But 25%? That seems excessive; put it this way, i could book a return flight to NY from London, get a cab to Gotham Sound, buy a 633 (or as many 633's as UK mixers want) stay overnight in a moderate hotel, fly home and then pay all custom and import duties AND STILL SAVE MONEY. Christmas in NY anyone? I know a few guys here who would put an order in for that.

but they don't cost £1926 here. They cost £2500 + VAT which is nearly 25% mark up on the US price - for what? because i turn my faders anti-clockwise rather than counter-clockwise?

Just a note - in the US this retails for $3095 + VAT. In the UK it retails for (at todays exchange rate) nearly $1000 more! - $4023 or £2500 + VAT Why?

Pascal - how do you solve the problem of not being able to screw-lock your db-15 connectors into the SRSNY endplate of your SRb's? Do they just sit there?

I just want to chime in with the fact that Henry has rewired every single one of my current set of lav mics; DPA 4060, 4071 and Cos-11's, as well as numerous repairs of varying complexity and i have not once had cause to complain or return anything. His work is excellent.

The hypocrisy in this thread is hilarious. Please continue.

Putting new releases on their website relies on people regularly checking their website. With the number of manufacturers that i check/buy from/want to know when they release new stuff i would spend all my life checking websites on the offchance that they have added something new. The information needs to be there for people to peruse, but i am 100% in favour of companies like Raycom using Facebook and Twitter to alert people that there is something to look at on the website.

Ah! Yes - i see, i read (grieving for) as don't mention her as they are grieving for her. you are spot on.

Dan - not sure how much of Liverpool is grieving for Thatcher... soundmanjohns advice is excellent, i'd suggest forwarding it on to your producers as it will make a big difference to how pleasant your journeys are. Try http://www.thetrainline.com/ for tickets in advance and good prices. And Liverpool or Everton? Neither of them play cricket do they?

The original Bond on screen was actually Barry Nelson in 1954 in a CBS adaptation. And on radio it was quiz show host Bob Holness. So i don't think many people think of the original Bond - they think of their favourite. Controversial choice here but i actually love George Lazenby in 'On Her Majesty's Secret Service'. It's generally derided as being a lemon of a Bond FIlm, but i think there is a pretty good argument for it being one of the best. Watch the fight scene on the beach at the beginning and tell me Lazenby wouldn't whip the asses of any of the other Bonds in a fight? The man does a double footed flying kick into someones head; pretty athletic.

Yes Constantin, Pilot tone off.